© AFP 2017/ GEORGE OURFALIAN
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has managed to recapture over 70 square kilometers from western-backed militants in the vicinity of the al-Seen Military Airbase east of Damascus.
Government forces have captured Beir al-Siba, the Mount Sabahiyat and the Rishi and Tal Shahab in the area near the airbase. The SAA has also imposed a fire control over the Baghdad-Palmyra road in Badia Al Sham.
A rough look at the government advance in the area
The SAA has made their gains after minor clashes with militants from Assoud al-Sharkiah and the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo that seized this area last month after rapid advance against ISIS. Indeed, ISIS terrorists just withdrew from a large area in the Syrian desert because of a lack of manpower and military equipment as a result of losses in Syria and Iraq.
Separately, the SAA has begun deplyoing more reinforcements, including battle tanks in order to develop the advance in the area.
The SAA aims to develop its operations and reach the areas controlled by the 5th Assault Corps in the area south of Palmyra, north of Sawanah village.
Thus, government forces are aiming to prevent various factions of the Free Syrian Army from liifting the siege from Jaish al-Islam in eastern Qalamoun. If militants succeed in this, they would threaten the al-Seen Military Airbase and the government-held area near Damascus.
Alleged photos of the government reinforcements deploying to the area:
Source: https://twitter.com/NatDefFor/
Source: https://twitter.com/NatDefFor/
